Picking & Packing

David and I just returned from a weekend in Cincinnati to help Julie & Jane with the huge task of shipping out all of our anniversary release orders! We have never been there to help right after a release, so to see the whole process in action along with the sheer volume of EVERYTHING that they are dealing with was absolutely fascinating! I took a few photos so that I could share a bit of the process with you!

Everything starts here with Jane. She does all the legwork in preparing your order to be packed. She prints invoices & shipping labels, processes payments and organizes all the paperwork for the pickers.

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The pickers take the paperwork and collect all of the items that you have ordered. This is the "stamp wall" where most of the stamps are organized in order by item number. This makes it easy for the pickers to find the set(s) they need easily.

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They also make the decision about which box would suit your order the best. After they are done with that they set the box filled with merchandise in a stack for the packers. (This is one of the stacks of shipping boxes that were ordered to have on hand for this release!)

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There were two "packers" in place when we were there. Here is Julie double-checking the contents of the packages. Every order is checked twice to make sure there are no errors.

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Here is Michelle packing up a box. She has just finished wrapping everything in tissue and preparing the contents for its journey to its final destination!

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David is adding another package to the stack waiting for USPS to pick up. I was so impressed with their speed! These stacks are what they had completed packing on Friday alone! And that doesn’t include the UPS stack in the back room!

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While I was there I tackled the job of making up the stamp packages. I really enjoyed the process! Here are ALL the new stamps, waiting to be packaged!

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It all starts with assembling the stamp boxes.

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It is easiest to do 150 at a time.

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Then it is time to insert the stamps, CD case and rolled instructions with our new label.

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Finally, it is time to add the box band. And then when these are done, the process is started all over again. It seemed almost as if in a matter of minutes a batch I would have just completed would be gone! I am in awe of how fast they work! So, I am proud to say that many of you will be getting stamp sets that I personally assembled! I hope you enjoyed this little peak into the process! After seeing the progress they have made, you should all be getting your packages very soon!!!

Author Nichole Heady

Join the discussion 114 Comments

Wow! I never actually thought about you assemblying the stamp sets. I kind of assumed you received them from your manufacturer all put together. Thanks for posting this — it’s always interesting to see how many steps it takes from order placement to order fulfillment.

I CAN’T WAIT TO GET MY ORDER . . . even though I showed uncharacteristic restraint with my latest order. (This means, of course, I’ll be placing another order BEFORE the next release!)

Thanks Nichole for sharing that. I am sure that things are much different than they were one year ago, and I am sure that this will grow by leaps and bounds over the next year. I will look forward to seeing pictures one year from now. You have a great thing going there.
You have become a big part in my monthly budget for sure………….LOL
Thanks for sharing!

Wow! That is fantastic that you thought to take the time to show us how things work on the “inside” of PTI. How cool! Thanks and can’t wait to place my order…I was told I had to wait and am at the point where I just about can’t stand it! LOL

When I get my orders from PTI, I sense that your staff cares. From the label being rolled up carefully inside the instruction sheet, to the special touch of everything being wrapped in tissue paper. Thanks for an inside peek at how it all works. I appreciate the love and care that goes into each order! And, I especially love your products. Can’t wait ’til my budget allows for another order!

Oh my! Thanks for the sneak into the warehouse. It is so neat to see them all working and it is also absolutely incredible! I can’t believe how many boxes are there to be picked up! Does the driver just shake his head when he comes? 🙂

Hooray to the unsung heroes of Papertrey! I’m always impressed with how quickly my package comes. I also think that all of the little “extras” set you a cut above the rest (like wrapping everything in tissue!). Thanks for all of your hard work!!

Thanks for sharing the process. I have to say the first time I ordered from your company I was very impressed in the quality of the shipping and how the items arrived. It makes you want to place another order.

Wow! Thank you for sharing that! I have always loved opening my PTI box – you can just tell that it is packed with care and thoughts of the recipient. It makes it all the more to look forward to. You guys are the best!

Thank you for taking the time to share the process with us. I am in awe of everything that needs to be done so that my stamp sets can show up quickly and efficiently packed. Very impressive. Great work to the PTI team!!!

How cool to see the process!! I almost want to post pics on my blog so you can see the post production….that would be me tearing open the box to get to my new shiny, beautiful stamps, resituating them on the case, adding the label, inking them up right away and playing!! (oh and don’t forget using the box band to punch out a few tags…the CS you use on the band is colorful and strong! No waste here!!) Tee hee!
Thanks for sharing!
Kim

Thank you for sharing the behind the scenes look. With all the pre-release buzz, I honestly didn’t think my order would ship before the holiday weekend. Much to my amazement, I got confirmation that my order shipped a little less than 24 hours after I placed it. Julie, Jane and everyone else involved with the shipping side of things are to be commended for their efficient set up.

Thank you for this wonder peek inside. I ALWAYS get my order very fast. This party was so much fun and I am grateful to all of you who work so hard. I’m old school, or just old, LOL, I remember when we shopped things went in boxes with tissue paper. everything was tied with string, even the butcher tied up meat packages. I say all this to let you know how important the tissue paper is to me, and my much younger sister feels the same way. A huge THANK YOU to everyone. If I had known you set one foot in OH I would have had my husband drive me down just to meet you!!!

Looks like some pretty yellow box bands for spring. TFS. I love seeing “behind the scenes”. And of course, thanks to all who help in the Papertrey process. I love how quickly my orders arrive, and I know it takes a lot of work to keep it that way.

Nice to see that the head of a company would first of all think about sharing a narrative and photos like this… let alone take the photos herself, write the copy, be a part of the process itself, and post it all…
Thanks so much!

I am in awe. Just looking at those stamps that needed to be packaged in the boxes with the box band – I got a little anxious! It seems like such a daunting task! Thank you so much (ALL of you at Papertrey) for all the hard work you put into this business and for taking such good care of your customers!

Thanks for the photo process of post release production! I am amazed at the detail of packaging the stamp sets, tissue wrapping and packaging. You all are so totally amazing. Can’t wait to see an email telling me my order is on the way!!!!!!!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Hey Nichole! Welcome to the high-speed world of packing and shipping! LOL! Did you ever in your life think you could pick and pack so many orders in a single day? How fun for you to be able to be part of it. I’m sure the girls loved having you and your hubby there!
Hugs,
Gina K.

From the very first PTI release it was obvious that special care was taken in all steps of the process. Thank you for giving us an inside glimpse of that level of caring of each of the individuals involved in the process.
Judith

Thanks for the sneak peek at the factory shipping process, amazing efficiency for a small company, you can tell everyone is extremely dedicated to customer service. Can’t wait for my parcel to arrive my friend placed my order for me last week. Ann

OH WOW Nichole!!! Them poor workers LoL
That’s just AMZING they got all that packaged up so fast! I was totally SHOCKED when I got an e-mail confirm shortly after 24 hrs of ordering that my order was Shipped. PTI give teh absolute BEST Customer Service!!!

Thanks for giving us a peek into the business end of things. It gives us all a better idea of all the hard work and attention to detail it takes to make sure everyone’s order is received in a timely manner as well as acurately.

Thanks for pitching in. I see that USPS will be delivering my sets on tomorrow. You all have made me a happy stamper! I love seeing the behind the scenes process. I am so happy to be supporting a local stamp company! Queen Pam in the Queen City of Cincinnati.

WOW….looks overwhelming! Thanks for the peak inside the operation. I just love the extra personal care that you take with each package. This is one of the qualities that makes us each feel so special when we recieve our orders. Keeps me coming back for more. Tracking my order and hoping that I might have it on my doorstep tomorrow…..Yeah!

I loved seeing the behind the scenes of what goes on. I think it adds to the overall appreciation of all that you (PTI) does. Thank you so much for sharing all this with us – along with the pictures. Wow, it really is amazing.
Good job to everyone!

Thanks so much for sharing. I am in awe with you and your business. I imagine you hear this all the time but “You are my inspiration” Man that sound corny and way out of charachter for me!! I love telling others about papertrey and leading them to your blog because it is so helpful to me. I can’t wait to get my first order and share with you some of the things that I create using your products.
From my military family to yours, Thank you for what you are doing!!
Justine

Wow, what a cool look into the process! That was so nice of you to share with all of us…and helps to understand why sometimes it takes longer than expected to receive something! I am so excited to get my new toys! Thanks Nichole!!

Wow, all the boxes that were ready to leave Friday are really impressive! Your business is a huge success it looks like! I love the way my goodies always arrive in a timely manner and the quality is wonderful too. I’m anxiously awaiting the next arrival! Thanks~

thanks so much for sharing all of this with us—WOW! what a huge amount of work! I’m so happy for your “little company”! What a thrill it must be to see such growth in just one year. I hope this next year brings all you have ever dreamed! Please tell your cohorts thanks so much for all their work! I haven’t been able to order yet—out of the country, but I WILL place an order soon! Can’t wait!

Thank you for sharing this with us! I really enjoy how PT is so “hands on” with everything from designing to shipping. It makes me as a customer feel like we’re part of it all. Thank you so much and I can’t wait to get my anniversary set!!

How reassuring that it for all us buyers.
I have recently bought my first set of PTI stamps and I’m dancing from one foot to the other waiting for them (I’m so impatient)When I see something I love I have to have it in my crafty mits as soon as possible so it’s great to see you all pulling together as a team to get our orders to us.
Thanks a bunch to all the team.
Jak x

So enjoyed seeing the ‘behind the scenes’ process after a release. It has always been such a pleasure to see how everything is so neatly packaged and how quickly the orders arrive. Everyone does a wonderful job with great care taken to get all those orders out. Please pass along my huge thanks to all who help in the process of giving the stamps a new home!

Wow! Thank you for sharing this with us! I’ve always been very impressed with the customer service at PTI and getting this glimpse at how it all works is a real treat! Kudos to all of you who work so hard and make it all look so easy peasy!

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